(this information was submitted by Julia Krutilla)
Much of the early documents on this family have conflicting information
but all are included so you can weigh the evidence and quality of the
source.
George EDGINGTON, Sr. was supposedly born in London c1706/07, some
sources say Wales, and ran away from home due to a whipping. He was
discovered as a stowaway when far out to sea, came to American at the
age of 15, and settled near Philadelphia, PA. There he married Margaret
BROOME on 30 Jul 1743 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
George EGERTON is the name found on this church document.
Some secondary evidence connects his wife, Margaret BROOME with parents
Thomas BROOME and Elizabeth COLEY who married 27 July 1712 at Christ
Church, Philadelphia, PA.
The following is abstracted material from the Draper Manuscripts.
"George EDGINGTON, who came from London to America, settled first near
Philadelphia and there married, then to Hampshire Co., VA, below the
mouth of South Branch, thirty miles from Winchester. Edward's Fort, six
miles from EDGINGTON was where the people forted. EDGINGTON went to a
tub mill belonging to another Edwards, and there were about a dozen
Dutch boys and girls also there at the mill and all had to stay
overnight. The next morning, all were taken by the Indians; they
tomahawked the children except two boys and EDGINGTON in the mill, and
set it on fire, and started for Fort DuQuesne (Pittsburgh, PA).
After going three miles, they killed the two remaining Dutch boys. In
crossing a stream, an Indian walked over a log, leading EDGINGTON, who
waded and when in the middle of the stream pulled in the Indian, who
when reaching the shore, aimed a tomahawk blow, which EDGINGTON partly
dodging, split his nose and upper lip; the other Indian interfered and
saved a repetition of the blow; tied up the wound - took him first to
Fort DuQuesne, then up to Scioto, and kept him three years.
Two days after EDGINGTON was taken, his wife barely escaped being with a
couple of families of eight persons, under protection of two soldiers,
going to Edward's Fort; all were waylaid and killed. While he was
absent, his wife, two years after, not doubting he was killed at the
mill, married again; but when he returned, he kindly gave her the choice
of husbands, and she chose her first."
The Compendium of American Genealogy Vol., 1, pg. 77 states "that George
EDGINGTON served in the French and Indian War and lived below the south
fork of the Potomac River in Hampshire County, VA."
His land transactions in Hampshire Co., VA/WV include a purchase of 200
acres on 10 August 1772 on the North River of Cacapon, and he sold it 2
October 1774 before moving to Holliday's Cove, Ohio Co., VA (now
Weirton, Brooke Co., WV).
The following is an abstract from "Pioneer Days, Early History of
Jefferson County, OH", M. D. Sinclair, pg. 155 regarding the EDGINGTON
Family:
"History of Pioneer EDGINGTON Family Reads Like Fiction - Among the many
strange happenings which befell the settlers of pioneer days, adventures
of the EDGINGTON family are among the most unusual.
George and Margaret (BROOME) EDGINGTON came to this country from England
at a very early date and settled in Hampshire Co., VA on a grant of land
given them by Lord Fairfax. Later they decided to remove from that
location and went to what we now call Hollidays Cove (Weirton, WV).
They are said to have had six sons in the War of the Revolution. One of
these was Thomas, born in 1744, died 1814, buried in Union Cemetery
together with his wife, Martha, a son, Thomas, a daughter, Drusilla, and
a son, Jesse, who was born 1779, died 1866. Also Mrs. Mary VIERS
EDGINGTON born 1783, died 1852. The family lived in the red brick house
which is still standing not far from the approach to the Fort Steuben
bridge on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River . . . . . . The
pioneers, George and Martha (Margaret is who they meant) EDGINGTON, were
buried in a private burying ground not far from the house where they
lived in West Virginia (then VA) and recently a descendant, who is a
prominent resident of Wheeling, WV, has been making an effort to locate
the graves and will have the remains disinterred and placed in the
EDGINGTON lot in Union Cemetery. In addition to the members already
referred to there will also be found in Island Creek Cemetery, Ashiel
EDGINGTON, 1760-1826 and Cassandra (VEIRS) , 1773-1828; Jesse EDGINGTON
never married but was prominent among the early settlers in this
district. Mrs. Martha EDGINGTON McCAUSLEN is descended on her mother's
side from these old pioneers."
During the Indian depredations in the early 1780's, the EDGINGTON along
with most of the valley pioneer families safely moved into Washington
Co., PA. The 1783 Nottingham Twp., Washington Co., PA Tax lists include
George Sr., his sons Jesse, John, Isaac, George Jr., and an unknown
Norris EDGINGTON. (With Thomas presumed dead, perhaps this Norris [an
early surname in Washington Co., PA] is the widow Martha "Patty" with
her maiden name, inheriting her husband's property or perhaps the new
husband. He could also be an unknown son of George Sr.) George and
Margaret's sons Thomas and Joseph are clearly missing from these tax
records. Thomas was most likely an indian captive in the Indian towns
as he is missing from 3 years of tax records and perhaps Joseph was
active service with the militia as he later appears as a squatter across
the Ohio River at Hart's Rock on 30 November 1785. And in the 1787 Ohio
Co., VA tax records all of the EDGINGTONs return to their property in
the 1787 Ohio Co., VA (WV) Tax records.
In 1788, George Sr. believing his days on this earth were soon coming
to an end, gave his son, George Jr. power of attorney. This document
can be found in the Ohio Co., WV(VA) Deed Book 1, pg. 209.
Unfortunately, no records have been found on Margaret BROOME EDGINGTON
date of death or even much about her life.
George EDGINGTON, SR. died in 1791 age 84 at his son, Thomas's farm in
Ohio Co., VA according to Leyman Draper Manuscripts. And Mr. Draper
mentions seeing the grave, crude stone and inscription as date and age
were given on this same field stone.
CHILDREN OF GEORGE EDGINGTON SR. and MARGARET BROOME:
Thomas EDGINGTON b. 1744 Hampshire Co., VA, d. 2 January 1814 Brooke
Co., VA(WV). Served in Brady's Rangers, a spy for the Frontier
Rangers, Indian captive in 1781, taken to Detroit and sold to the
British. Ref: Pa Arch 6th Series, Vol. II, pg. 153; Draper Mss. 2 S
292, 293. He was reburied at the Union Cemetery, Steubenville, OH.
Married Martha "Patty" _______. Children: Asahel, George, Mary, John,
Sarah, Jesse, Rachel, Drucilla, and Thomas.
George EDGINGTON, JR. b. c1746 Hampshire Co., VA, d. 1816, said to be
buried in EDGINGTON Cemetery. Moved to Manchester, Adams Co., OH in
1791 shortly after the town was founded by Massie. About 1795 he left
the stockade and settled in Sprigg Township near Zane's Trace. Pioneer
to the Northwest Territory. Ref: PA Archives Series Vol. 2, pg. 41,
83; Evans's & Stivers History of Adams Co., OH. George died in 1816.
He left his wife Mary (who was born about 1750, and was possibly a
Naylor) and a large family (order of birth unknown). Children: John,
George, Elizabeth "Tacy", Sarah, William, Mary, Absalom, Drucilla, and
Abel.
Joseph EDGINGTON, b. c 1749, Hampshire Co., VA, d. April 1832, probably
buried in the Aerl (Wilson) Cemetery. While living in Holiday's Cove,
Ohio Co., WV (now Brooke Co., WV) area with his brothers, Isaac and
Jesse, enlisted in Capt. James Munn's Co. of Pennsylvania militia, and
participated in Col. William Crawford's disastrous Sandusky expedition.
His nephew Jacob EDGINGTON states that on one occasion he shot a squaw
he saw coming up a branch; she was "very richly dressed, wearing many
silver brooches". Shortly afterwards he had his arm broken by a musket
ball, recovered. About 1795 he went with his family to Massie's, and
is reported to have been one of the first to settle outside the
stockade. He remained in Sprigg Twp. until about 1817, when he bought
land in what is now Eagle Twp., Brown Co., OH where he resided until his
death in April 1832. Joseph was married twice; first to Eleanor, whose
maiden name is unknown; and second on August 8, 1814, to Hannah
(McLAUGHLIN) GUTRIDGE, widow of James GUTRIDGE. She survived him, dying
August 2, 1845, aged 74 years, 4 months, 17 days and is buried in the
Aerl Cemetery. Joseph EDGINGTON was the father of a large family - all
by his 1st wife Eleanor. He did not leave a will as he disposed of his
real estate prior to his death and no paper trail has been found giving
all the names of his children. Known children: Ashahel, Margaret,
Eleanor, George, Joseph Jr., Isaac, Joshua, Jemina, Henry, Honor, and
Asa.
Isaac EDGINGTON, b. c1752 in Hampshire Co., VA, d. abt. 1836, buried
Bentonville, Adams Co., OH. Pvt. on Sandusky Exp. under Col. William
Crawford in Capt. James Munn's Co., Washington Co., PA Militia. Ref:
PA Archives 6th Series, Vol. 2 pg. 51, 72, 84, 396; Evan's & Stivers
History of Adams Co.; Draper Manuscripts 19 S 162, 163. He was married
c1777 to Elizabeth, maiden name unknown. He moved from Hampshire Co.,
VA to the then western frontier area near Ft. Henry, Wheeling, VA(WV),
where he and his brothers Joseph and Jesse, enlisted in Capt. James
Munn's Co. of PA militia and served in Crawford's expedition in the
summer of 1782. He was for many years a scout in the Wheeling area, and
was granted a tract of land in Strabane Twp., Washington Co., PA, patent
dated 17 March 1787. He later sold this tract to his brother Jesse,
which was recorded May 18, 1796. His son Jacob EDGINGTON says in his
1863 statement to Mr. Draper, that his father removed to Adams Co., in
1794. Isaac settled outside the stockade at Manchester in Sprigg Twp.
along Isaac's Creek, which bears his name about the age of 84 years. He
supposedly left a will, which was distroyed in the Court House fire of
February 1910. He and his wife, Elizabeth are believed to be buried
near Bentonville. No complete list of their children has been found,
but the following are constructed from records available: Ruah Ann
(Ruanna, Ruey Ann), Abraham, Isaac Jr., Jacob, Rachel, Brice Viers,
Azariah, and John.
John EDGINGTON b. c1754 Hampshire Co., VA, d. 1813 Stark Co., OH. Moved
from Brooke Co., VA to Stark Co., OH in 1811. Buried 1 mile west of
Canal Fulton. Pvt. In Capt. James Munn's Co., 2nd Batt. Washington
Co., PA Militia, ordered to rendezvous 18th of March 1782. Ref: PA
Archives 6th Series, Vol. II, pg. 36, 60, 83. Married Nancy Bruce.
Children: Aaron, John, Sarah, Mary, Rebecca, Noah, Nancy, Margaret, and
Isaac.
Jesse EDGINGTON b. 1759 Hampshire Co., VA, d. July 6, 1821 Springfield
Twp., Richland Co., OH, on farm 7 miles west of Mansfield, buried near
Ontario, Richland Co., OH. Removed from Jefferson Co., OH near
Steubenville to Richland Co., OH in 1815. Pvt. In Washington Co., PA
Militia Capt. James Munn's Co., 1782; Williamson expedition, the
disastrous foray of the Sandusky Exp. under Col. Wm. Crawford. Married
October 5, 1779, Margaret Palmer (Parmer, Paramour, or Parramore).
Children: Thomas, John, Levi, Isaac, Jesse, and William.
Recommended reading and reference on this family:
